Pakistan’s 2026 schedule: A year packed with major tournaments and bilateral series

Pakistan‘s 2026 cricket calendar promises to be packed with a variety of major international events. This includes high-stakes tournaments like the ICC World Test Championship (2025–27), 2026 T20 World Cup, and the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Alongside these prestigious tournaments, multiple bilateral series will keep the Men in Green busy, leaving little room for rest throughout the year.

The backbone of Pakistan’s cricket schedule for 2026 is the Future Tours Programme (FTP), which guides the team’s international fixtures. While Pakistan has held several home series in the UAE in recent years, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already confirmed most of the matchups for 2026, with a few series still awaiting finalization.

Key Tournaments and Bilateral Series

Pakistan will kick off their 2026 campaign with an away tour to Sri Lanka in January, which will feature a three T20Is. The fixtures are set to be played at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, presenting an excellent opportunity for Pakistan to begin the year with a strong performance.

Following this, Pakistan will take on Australia in a three-match T20I series from January 30 to February 5. This series will be an essential preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup, allowing Pakistan to fine-tune their squad and strategies under subcontinental conditions.

Once the T20I series wraps up, all eyes will turn to the T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8. These preliminary series will be critical for Pakistan, as they aim to build momentum and confidence in the lead-up to the global competition.

After the World Cup, Pakistan will host Australia for a three-match ODI series in mid-March. Although the dates are still being finalized, this series will provide another opportunity for Pakistan to solidify their preparations for the busy year ahead, with confirmation pending from both the PCB and Cricket Australia.

The 11th edition of the Pakistan Super League is slated for April and May 2026, overlapping with the Indian Premier League (IPL) schedule. This exciting domestic competition will see top Pakistani players team up with international stars, making it one of the standout events on the country’s cricket calendar.

Challenging Test Series in England

The year will also feature a major challenge for Pakistan’s Test team, as they are set to face England in a three-match series as part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27. Scheduled for August and September, this series will be held at iconic English venues such as Lord’s, Headingley, and Edgbaston. The fast and swinging conditions of these venues are expected to test Pakistan’s batting line-up, particularly against England’s pace bowlers. This series will play a crucial role in Pakistan’s bid for success in the World Test Championship, alongside their upcoming fixtures against Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

Pakistan T20 World Cup schedule

Related